Higher Omega-3 Levels Linked to Healthier Brain Markers in Older Adults at Risk for Alzheimer’s

This study looked at 104 cognitively healthy older adults who were considered at higher risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers measured blood levels of the omega-3 fats DHA and EPA and compared them to brain scans that measured gray matter volume (a marker of brain tissue health) and amyloid-beta buildup (a hallmark protein associated with Alzheimer’s disease).

People with higher combined DHA+EPA levels tended to have larger gray matter volume in a brain region involved in memory and spatial awareness, and lower amyloid-beta buildup in areas of the brain commonly affected by Alzheimer’s disease. This pattern held true regardless of whether participants carried the APOE4 gene variant, which increases Alzheimer’s risk, though the amyloid-beta findings were strongest in APOE4 carriers.

Because this was a cross-sectional, observational study, it shows an association at one point in time rather than proving that omega-3 intake directly causes these brain differences. The researchers note that well-designed clinical trials are still needed to test whether omega-3 supplementation can influence brain volume or amyloid buildup over time.